Broadband plan ‘is still viable’ after Denis Naughten resigns

Timmy Dooley said the work that had already gone into the plan meant it should not be scrappedLEAH FARRELL/ROLLINGNEWS

Fianna Fáil has called for a national forum to discuss the future of the government’s broadband plan.

The party called for the consultation after the resignation of Denis Naughten, the communications minister, after details emerged of meetings and private dinners he held with the head of the last consortium bidding for the National Broadband Plan.

Richard Bruton, formerly the education minister, has been appointed as the new communications minister. Seán Canney, an independent TD, is now the junior minister in the department.

Timmy Dooley, the Fianna Fáil communications spokesman, said yesterday that the entire plan did not necessarily need to be scrapped. “Over the last three years all the main contractors that we talk about have done an immense amount of work. The department has…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.